Song sung in this chapter: "Nobody But Me" by Michael Bublé

https://youtu.be/HXeYRs_zR6w

~~~~~

The stage was set. The band was in place, ready for the next performance. The one everyone was here for tonight. The long anticipated wait. Leatherhead and his band patiently waited behind the red curtain as their boss, Mr Hamato, made his way to the edge of the stage. Presenting himself to the crowd, a single spotlight shone as he took hold of the microphone.

"Ladies and Gentleman!"

Just from his words alone, the chatty crowd went silent. Their attention was captured by him. Mr Hamato had full control of the room in a matter of seconds.

"Returning to the stage after a long, and hopefully last, hiatus, please give it up for my son, Raphael Hamato!"

The audience clapped and cheered, the ladies in the crowd in particular were more fired up than the gentlemen. The red curtain opened, revealing Raphael accompanied by The Dojo's band. He stepped forward to approach the microphone as his father retreated backstage. The second born son of Mr Hamato was dressed to the nines, with a dark as night suit, a clean white collared shirt, and a dark red tie. To top off the look, a fedora rested on his head, complementing and finishing off his ensemble. He gave a charming smile to the crowd. The ladies squealed with excitement, unknown to any of them that his smile was only for one specific lady in the crowd.

Sitting at her table from the opposite side of the room, Mona Lisa and Raphael made eye contact. She gave him a smile followed by a tiny wave. Raph smiled back. He felt his heart beating fast, nervous but excited to sing the song.

With a snap of his fingers, the music kicked up. The strum of a double bass from Rockwell, followed by the subtle beat of the drum from Mondo Gecko. Tapping his feet to the beat, Raphael began to sing.

"Baby, I get a little bit jealous. But how the hell can I help it? When I'm thinkin' of you. Maybe, I might get a little reckless, but you gotta expect that. What else can a Turtle do?"

A high pitch squeal of excitement came from all the women of the audience. Just a few lines into his song and they are already entranced. Leaning on their table, hands resting on their cheeks as they all looked at Raphael with so much admiration and desire, imagining he was singing to them and only them.

Mona chuckled at the women's reactions. She can't argue, Raphael is a far more talented singer than she expected. She can't blame the other women fawning over him, but perhaps it was a little too much to her liking.

"My momma taught me how to share, but I'll be selfish and I don't care. 'Cause I want you, I need you all for me."

A few hits on the drums, the music erupts with the sound of trumpets and a saxophone. The lights brighten on the stage, showing the crowd Raph's glistening smile.

"I don't want anybody loving my baby. Nobody..."

"Nobody!" the band repeats behind him

"Nobody..."

"Nobody!" they repeat again.

"Nobody but me!"

Raph steps away from the microphone, allowing the band to take over the stage with a solo. With his trumpet, Leatherhead played his solo, wowing the crowd with his musical talent as the rest of his band backed him with their instruments. It is very rare the band truly gets to show off their skills as musicians, their only purpose ever to just back up the Hamato brothers with their songs. So Raph's decision to give them a time to shine, meant a lot. As Leatherhead finished up his short solo, Raphael continued on with his song.

"I know, I get a bit jealous, but how the hell can I help it? I'm so in love with you..."

Mona Lisa could swear when he said those words he was looking right at her. The subtle wink just supported her suspicions, along with the icy stare from the nearby women who caught on to who his gaze was locked onto.

"I don't want anybody...!"

Raphael's voice roars throughout the room, so beautiful and powerful. It caught everyone's attention. Grabbing his fedora and pulling off his head, Raphael tosses it to the crowd. The hat flew through the air, perfectly landing in Mona Lisa's grasp. The women around her cheered, excited but also envious the lizard woman caught his hat.

"Loving my baby! Nobody!

"Nobody!" the crowd cheers.

"Nobody..."

"Nobody!" the band echoes.

"Nobody but me!" Raphael's smile grew wider, "Oh my papa told me once or twice, don't be cruel, don't be too nice. My baby needs no lies for me. And I know how to share, but I'll be selfish, I don't care!"

Placing one hand on his chest and handing another out to the audience, Raphael looks out to the crowd, his eyes locked on Mona Lisa, concluding his song with the final lyrics, "My baby don't need no one but me!"

Giving out a final note, the band concludes Raphael's song. With a bow, the crowd goes wild, cheering and crying out to the red turtle for his performance. It has been so long since Raphael has heard cheers like that. Cheers for him. The validation. The praise. He nearly forgot what it was like to be on stage, hearing the adoring cheers of your fans.

"Maybe performing again isn't so bad..." Raph said to himself softly, letting out an exhale followed by a pleased smile.

Out in the audience, the echoing cheers and clapping continued on. As everyone praised Raphael for his performance, Mona Lisa couldn't help but take notice of some giggling coming from a nearby table. Despite the loud chatter from the other customers, this sound in particular stood out for its high pitched snarky tone. Peaking over in the corner of her eye, enough to look but not draw attention, was a larger table behind her. A booth with the seats made of pure leather. Sitting there were three glamorous women. One was a human with blonde hair and piercing green eyes that matched her dress. The other two at the table were mutants, a coyote with amber eyes wearing a slimming black frock, dark brown fur and curls, and an arctic fox with snowy white fur. Her yellow eyes contrasting her dark purple dress.

"Raphael Hamato is such a charmer..." the fox woman said with a loving sigh, leaning her chin on her hands.

"You know, the other night he was putting his moves onto both of us," the coyote woman bragged, smiling at her friend who nodded in confirmation as they sipped their drinks.

"You tramps!" the fox squeals, playfully smacking the other woman's arm.

"Sadly we only went as far as flirting," the blonde added. "We did have plans to go out with him later that night, but then that clutz of a cigar girl over there intervened and killed the mood, starting a doltish riot."

"Hm," the foxy woman gave a malicious grin, "or maybe he purposely hired that girl to get in the way so he wouldn't have to go through an unfortunate night with the two of you."

"Oh please!" The coyote lady scoffs, "Raphael 'The Philanderer' Hamato will flirt with any woman in this place. Even that one over there."

Mona's shoulder tightened. She didn't have to turn around to know they were talking about her. Their icy stares Mona could feel piercing her back was enough of a confirmation.

"Doubtful. Raphael Hamato wouldn't stoop that low," the fox snickers.

The blonde agreed, "Look at her. Even if by some miracle Raphael Hamato did go for a girl like that, you know full well it would only be a fling, if she's lucky."

The three women all laugh, taking their glasses and clinking them together in a celebratory manner before sipping their cocktails. They continued on with their obnoxiously loud gossip about Raphael's reputation, but Mona Lisa has heard enough.

"Why did I even bother coming here..." she grumbles to herself.

Letting out a long sigh, Mona Lisa quickly finishes her drink. Leaving a tip on the table, she heads out the door, leaving The Dojo without a second thought.

This action quickly caught the attention of Raph who was still on the stage basking in the glory of the praise from his fans.

"She's leaving? Already??"

Dropping the microphone, he dashes off the stage. Not giving anyone, his father, the band or his brothers, a moment to congratulate him for a successful performance and return to the spotlight. He pushed everyone out of the way without a second thought. Sprinting through the backstage hall, Raphael exited The Dojo through the back door. Running out of the alleyway and into the streets Raph looks around to see where Mona Lisa hurried off to. He soon spots her down the road, she hasn't gone too far. He doesn't know why, but he ran after her.

"Hey, Mona Lisa! W-Wait up!" he calls out to her.

She ignores him, her pace increasing from hearing his voice.

"H-Hold on! Wait! Y-Y'gythgba!"

Mona finally stops in her tracks. A sudden silence takes over the streets of New York, almost as if the universe has frozen at his words, "What did you call me?"

"That's your name... Right?"

She turns, "It is, but how did you-"

"April told me," He quickly explained, "I saw you two talking earlier."

"Oh, I see..." she lets out a long sigh, collecting herself before saying, "Thank you for inviting me to your show tonight, Raphael, but I must go. Goodbye."

"Wha- Goodbye? Pretty abrupt way to end the evening, don't you think? I was hoping..." he blushes, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck, "We would talk some more after the show. It was a part of our deal, remember?"

"You also agreed that I'd throw another perfume bottle at you," Mona snarks, her smile finally returning to her face.

"Only if you didn't like my performance!" Raph smirks, challenging her, "Did you?"

She glares are Raph with a teasing expression, "I can't lie, you do have a lovely voice and your performance tonight was sublime."

"Ha ha! I knew it! Now you have to praise me and talk about how charming I am!"

"Another time. I should head home now. It's getting late."

"Uh, le-let me walk you home at least!" Raph suddenly burst out in a panic, trying to find any excuse to keep talking to her, "It's not safe for a lady to be alone at this late hour. There's gangs and the Foot Mafia are always lurking."

She was quiet for a moment, seeming to be studying him with her glare, "...If you insist."

Raph smiled at the dancer, but she did not return the gaze. Quickly turning back around and walking away. Raph hurried to catch up with her, soon by her side, he couldn't help but notice her demeanor. Her posture was perfect, screaming confidence, but her eyes showed sadness and insecurity. Raph wasn't sure what to say or do. He hasn't seen her like this before. Almost as if she was a different person from their last nightly stroll.

"I thought Mona Lisa was your name?" Raph asked her bluntly. Might as well address the elephant in the room.

"Hm? Oh, it's actually my stage name," she explains. "Y'Gythgba is my real name but I've been called 'Mona Lisa' so many times I often mix the two up. Despite it just being a part of my profession, I do actually enjoy being called 'Mona Lisa'. It's my favorite piece of art by Da Vinci."

"You're an art lover?" Raph's smile grew.

She nods, "I mostly enjoy the artists during the Renaissance. It's my favorite era of art."

"Huh, my old man loves the Renaissance too. Personally, I'm more of a Picasso fan. He's been making some pretty impressive stuff lately. Have you seen it?"

"I've heard of him. He's that gentleman from Spain, correct? He's quite talented, but his style is too abstract for my taste."

He shrugs, "I get that. His style can be a little over the top sometimes but I've always enjoyed the strangest of it. You know, he's kind of what inspired me to take up painting."

Mona's curiosity peaked, "You've painted before?"

"Every once in a while I pick up a brush and some oils," he tells her with a prideful grin, wanting to impress her. "It'd be nice to do it full time, but my father's business gets in the way of me from having actual hobbies or a personal life. Heck! I can't even date someone without the press being on my shell about it and becoming public within a day!" Raph grumbles before letting out an awkward chuckle. He doesn't know why he said that. It just spilled out of him. He clears his throat before continuing, "It would be nice to become an artist like Picasso one day. He's my idol."

"Hmm, now that I think about it..." Mona said with a teasing smirk, beginning to walk ahead of Raph down the street, "That makes perfect sense!"

"What makes sense?

"At the Dojo I overheard some of your admirers discuss your scandalous affairs..." she giggles in a snarky tone, "It explains why Picasso is your favorite artist! You are both philanderers!"

"H-Hey! That's not true!" Raph shouts, offended by her claim, "I mean, yeah, I've flirted with a few women and been on a date or two, but I never did anything wrong! Picasso has mistresses and is disloyal to his wife! What I do is different! All my relationships are just meaningless flings! They mean nothing!"

"Is that why you're so insistent on spending time with me?" Mona said, looking over her shoulder. She smirks at the frustrated turtle, her golden eyes outshining every street lamp and star in the sky. "Are you hoping that I'll be your next 'meaningless fling'?"

Raph froze as he felt his face begin to heat up. It was her eyes again. The same trance she put him under when she was on stage. He couldn't tell if she was doing this on purpose or if it was just him feeling weak at the knees from her beautiful gaze.

"W-What?! N-No! That's NOT why I'm doing this!" Raph assured her as his face felt hot and flustered.

Was that what he wanted? No! The thought never crossed his mind. A first if he's honest with himself. Usually when he meets a beautiful woman he wants he entrances her, woo her with his charm and then she's his. But with Mona Lisa she's not affected. When they first met she wasn't swayed by his charm. So then why is he so eager to keep talking to her? Maybe to hear her soothing voice speak his name. To have her glistening yellow gaze met with his own. To know more about her is like an adventure he craves to explore. All this action to keep on seeing her, to keep talking to her, was an instinct, but for what? Why is he acting differently with her?

Mona grew tired of the silence, continuing to walk down the street. She said nothing, an assured smile remained on her face. Possibly feeling a sense of victory for winning her banter with Raphael Hamato.

Raph however, did not find it amusing, "Well, why do you even care if that's how you think of me?!" he snapped angrily. This caught Mona off guard, "You said it yourself when we first met that you don't care about me! So why do you care at all about what I've done?!"

"I didn't say that I don't care about you!" Mona strongly exclaims, quickly turning around to look at Raphael. He was taken aback by this statement. Her eyes were full of distress. Was she... hurt by this accusation? That wasn't his intention.

Mona took a moment to claim herself before continuing, "I meant I don't care that you're Raphael Hamato, the famous jazz star from The Dojo. The one with unmatched charm and charisma, that all women fawn over. He's fake, and I don't care for 'fake'. But talking to you now..." she sighs, "I can't hold that against you. That's just the role you play..."

"W-What do you mean by that?" Raph began to calm, confused by her words.

"In the world of show business, you and I are expected to play specific roles the public wants to see," she gestures to Raph, "For you, a womanizing, wealthy jazz star who causes trouble whenever he desires," she then places her hand to her chest. "And me, a seductive woman who will dance foolishly for any man, but that's not who you and I truly are, is it?"

Raph crossed his arms, "How can you tell that's not what I'm really like?"

"When you asked me for help the other night. Back at Galaxatic Gals," Mona explained to him, "You tried to flirt your way out with me, to get your way, but when you realized that won't work you snapped out of your facade. I saw it in your eyes when you were begging me to help you. You were scared, not just of the reporters hunting you down, but of this role you are in and what it's always putting you through. My suspicions were later confirmed when you told me yourself that you are beginning to resent the life and role you have been forced to play for so long.

Raph was confused by what she meant, but instead of asking questions he let her continue.

"After your song, I overheard these women talking about you and your scandalous history. I realized that I nearly fell for it. That false persona. I suppose that's why I was so upset with you. I'm sorry I said such things..."

"You don't have to apologize..." Raph lets out an exhale, "I don't blame you. My history is not something I should be proud of, I'll admit. I guess this image I have of myself, I've been convinced it was the real me. From what the papers, my friends and even my own brothers say about me, that's what they think I am so I act that way, but truthfully..." Raph paused for a moment, allowing reality to finally take over him. It scared him, "I don't know who I really am..."

"That makes two of us..." Mona sighs, "With my job, I have to play that role, convince not just the men who come to see me dance but also myself that is who I am, when deep in my heart I know it is a lie. It seems show business has made us both forget who we truly are..."

Raph went quiet, thinking over everything Mona has said and what he has admitted. Was this really him? No. It's what is expected of him. With his father wanting him to attract the female customers over the years, it led Raph to believe that his charm is all he's good for. Taking it to his full advantage. From one lousy date with a pretty girl led to the image The Yojimbo Ledger painted about him. A womanizer. A skirt chaser. His family was convinced of this lie, this persona, and Raph had no choice but to play it. So now, after years of playing this role, Raphael is now unsure of who he truly is.

Suddenly Raph felt Mona Lisa place something upon his head. It was his fedora he threw out into the crowd during his performance.

"She... kept it?"

Raph looked up at her, finally seeing her caring smile as she said softly, "I'd love to get to know the real Raphael."

Raph looks up at her and smiles, "And I'd love to get to know Y'gythgba."

She giggles, "You can still call me Mona Lisa. Like I said before, I rather enjoy the name."

"So... it's a date then?"

"It's a date."

"Are you free tomorrow night?"

Mona Lisa nods.